News Release

Monday, May 1, 2000

Fatal Traffic Collision Kills Three People

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, April 28, 2000

"Fatal Traffic Collision Kills Three People"

West Los Angeles - On Thursday, April 27, 2000 at approximately 3:45 PM, a multi- vehicle fatal traffic collision occurred on Sepulveda Boulevard south of Skirball Center Drive in West Los Angeles Area.

Maximiliano Ramos, a 46 year-old resident of North Hills was driving a 1992 Suzuki Swift and was traveling northbound on Sepulveda Boulevard. As Ramos and four passengers were approaching Skirball Center Drive, he crossed into the opposing southbound lanes and collided with a Toyota pick-up truck heading south being driven by the sole occupant, Ryan Craig, a 25 year-old resident of Los Angeles. The force of the impact caused the Toyota pick-up truck to go slightly airborne, spin around and land in the southbound lanes colliding with a Cadillac Catera, also traveling southbound on Sepulveda Boulevard. Roberta Degnore, a 53 year-old resident of Culver City, was the sole occupant of the Cadillac. A 1989 Nissan 240SX, driven by 49 year-old Arthur Sterkowicz, a resident of Los Angeles, was also southbound on Sepulveda Boulevard and collided with the Toyota truck as the truck came to rest.

Ramos and two of his passengers, Carlos Meda, a 28 year-old resident of Panorama City and Alberto Garcia, a 27 year-old resident of North Hollywood, sustained massive injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene by responding Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics. Passenger Carlos Ramos, the 22 year-old son of Maximiliano Ramos, was transported to a local hospital by paramedics and treated for fractured ribs. Passenger Orlando Corleto, a 26 year-old resident of Van Nuys, was airlifted to a local hospital where he was treated for multiple lacerations. Ryan Craig sustained a broken nose and multiple lacerations to his face. He was also airlifted to a local hospital. Roberta Degnore complained of pain to her neck and back but did not require treatment at the scene. Arthur Sterkowicz was not injured.

All persons in the Suzuki worked for a local Landscape company and were apparently returning home from work. West Traffic Division officers and detectives conducted the on-scene investigation. The incident caused Sepulveda Boulevard to be closed in both directions for approximately seven hours.

The Los Angeles Police Department, West Traffic Detective Section, will conduct all further investigations related to this collision.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations Section at
213-485-3586.